Royal St. John's Regatta
Encyclopedia
The Royal St. John's Regatta is North America
's oldest annual sporting event with documented proof of 1816 boat races. There is credible contention that St. John's regattas were held even earlier than 1816, likely in the 18th century.
Held on Quidi Vidi Lake
in St. John's, Newfoundland
, the Regatta is scheduled for the first Wednesday of August. If weather isn't suitable, and wind conditions are very important, the event is postponed until the next suitable day. Since Regatta Day is a civic holiday in St. John's, this means that the weather actually determines whether or not workers have the day off – a matter sometimes complicated by late-night partying associated with the end of the George Street Festival the night before.
Crews row six-member, coxswain
ed, fixed-seat racing shells that are as identical as possible and are the property of the Royal St. John's Regatta Committee. Men's crews row a 2.450 km course, women's crews row a 1.225 km course, and all crews are required to turn buoy
s and return to the start-finish line.
A growing number of people, local and foreign, visit Quidi Vidi Lake
each year for the event, averaging around 50,000 in recent years. It has also become a popular spot for both provincial and federal politicians to meet the public. Aside from the rowing
competitions, the Royal St. John's Regatta is well-known for its lakeside entertainment. The Regatta host hundreds of booths operated by individuals and organizations, ranging from various games of chance to food and drink.
The regatta has long-standing ties with the Canadian monarchy: The regatta has been visited by members of the Royal Family, including Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward)
in 1860 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1978. It has been cancelled due to the death of any monarch
, and any year a coronation
has taken place or a milestone jubilee celebrated, the regatta has been held in honour of the monarch. Its royal designation was incorporated in 1993, which prompted changes in the event and the development of a new crest.
Members:
Cox: Mark Hayward
Stroke: Brent Hickey
5: Adam Kavanagh
4: Ron Witten
3: Ed Williams
2: James Cadigan
1: Darryl Ryan
Coach: Bert Hickey
----
Female Course Record: 4:56.70 (OZFM 2003 - Morning Race)
Members:
Cox: Rich Bailey
Stroke: Siobhan Duff
5: Tracey Hogan
4: Kristine Power
3: Jackie Handrigan
2: Nicole Hamlyn
1: Amanda Hancock
-style sales.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
's oldest annual sporting event with documented proof of 1816 boat races. There is credible contention that St. John's regattas were held even earlier than 1816, likely in the 18th century.
Held on Quidi Vidi Lake
Quidi Vidi Lake
Quidi Vidi Lake is a mile long body of water located at the east end of the city of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The lake has a long history of hosting sporting events, with the most renowned being the annual Royal St. John's Regatta, said to be the oldest continuous sporting event still held...
in St. John's, Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, the Regatta is scheduled for the first Wednesday of August. If weather isn't suitable, and wind conditions are very important, the event is postponed until the next suitable day. Since Regatta Day is a civic holiday in St. John's, this means that the weather actually determines whether or not workers have the day off – a matter sometimes complicated by late-night partying associated with the end of the George Street Festival the night before.
Crews row six-member, coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
ed, fixed-seat racing shells that are as identical as possible and are the property of the Royal St. John's Regatta Committee. Men's crews row a 2.450 km course, women's crews row a 1.225 km course, and all crews are required to turn buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
s and return to the start-finish line.
A growing number of people, local and foreign, visit Quidi Vidi Lake
Quidi Vidi Lake
Quidi Vidi Lake is a mile long body of water located at the east end of the city of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The lake has a long history of hosting sporting events, with the most renowned being the annual Royal St. John's Regatta, said to be the oldest continuous sporting event still held...
each year for the event, averaging around 50,000 in recent years. It has also become a popular spot for both provincial and federal politicians to meet the public. Aside from the rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
competitions, the Royal St. John's Regatta is well-known for its lakeside entertainment. The Regatta host hundreds of booths operated by individuals and organizations, ranging from various games of chance to food and drink.
History
There are records of rowing competitions in St. John's since at least 1816.The regatta has long-standing ties with the Canadian monarchy: The regatta has been visited by members of the Royal Family, including Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward)
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
in 1860 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1978. It has been cancelled due to the death of any monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
, and any year a coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
has taken place or a milestone jubilee celebrated, the regatta has been held in honour of the monarch. Its royal designation was incorporated in 1993, which prompted changes in the event and the development of a new crest.
Course records and record holders
Male Course Record: 8:51.29 (Crosbie Industrial Services 2007 - Championship Race)Members:
Cox: Mark Hayward
Stroke: Brent Hickey
5: Adam Kavanagh
4: Ron Witten
3: Ed Williams
2: James Cadigan
1: Darryl Ryan
Coach: Bert Hickey
----
Female Course Record: 4:56.70 (OZFM 2003 - Morning Race)
Members:
Cox: Rich Bailey
Stroke: Siobhan Duff
5: Tracey Hogan
4: Kristine Power
3: Jackie Handrigan
2: Nicole Hamlyn
1: Amanda Hancock
Other events
Regatta Day is only officially recognized as a holiday in the city of St. John's and most retail establishments outside the city remain open that day. Some larger suburban stores mark the day with extravagant Boxing DayBoxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
-style sales.
See also
- List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
- St. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
- Monarchy of Canada
- Newfoundland rowingNewfoundland rowingRowing Newfoundland is the provincial governing body for rowing in Newfoundland and Labrador. It has existed in some capacity since 1967, when Newfoundland competed in the sport of rowing at the first Canada Summer Games in Halifax....